How To Bet The Baltimore Ravens Vs Cleveland Browns Odds

Week 12’s Monday Night NFL game pits two bad AFC North teams against each other when the limping Baltimore Ravens take on the Cleveland Browns. The game kicks off on ESPN this November 30 at 8:30 pm ET.

Though this game will have little impact on the playoff race, there is a enough drama to write the next tele novela hit. The Ravens are hurting. They lost their starting WR, RB, QB and best defensive player. They face the Browns who are still playing QB carousel and this time it’s because of Johnny Football’s off the field issues.

A Closer Look At The Baltimore Ravens Vs Cleveland Browns Odds

The NFL week 12 MNF odds favor Cleveland by -2.5-points to beat Baltimore and complete the season sweep of the Browns. The moneyline is likely to have the underdog at +120. Both teams are suffering through quarterback issues. Who knows which team will end up as the favorite? Expect the Over/Under to climb from 41. Neither Baltimore nor Cleveland has much of a defense.

Bet The Baltimore Ravens +2.5 Because…

The losses are piling up for the Ravens. They lost Steve Smith and Terrell Suggs to season ending injuries. This past week they lost Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco and Justin Forsett. Until this week, Flacco has started all 137 games including the playoffs over the last eight years, a streak that will end after he was struck in the knee during the final minute of last week’s victory. The hit cause a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee.

“I’m really proud of the fact that I was able to go that long,” Flacco said. “I wanted to go my whole career without missing anything. It’s just the nature of the game. It happens. I just have to go out there, rehab, get back and be stronger.”

Back-up Matt Schaub is capable of filling in for the injured Flacco. Schaub has started in the NFL before. He’s not much more than a back-up QB ala Matt Hasselbeck in Indianapolis, but against Cleveland, that’s probably good enough.

Schaub will benefit from being able to lean on tight-end Crockett Gilmore. Gilmore has been a find for the Ravens this season. He leads the team in touchdowns with 4 and has 9 catches and 143 yards in Baltimore’s last 2 games. If Baltimore’s offensive line gives Schaub enough time to look off the coverage on Gilmore, Baltimore will have a shot.

Bet The Cleveland Browns -2.5 Because…

Johnny Football lost his starting gig to Josh McCown this week due to an off the field issue. Johnny Manziel was seen holding a bottle in an Austin nightclub over the weekend. Then he lied to the team and asked his friends from the part to lie too. When will he learn. McCown is listed as questionable.

“It’s the trust, the accountability part of it,” Pettine said. “It was right on the heels of discussions that not just I had with him but (quarterbacks coach) Kevin O’Connell and (offensive coordinator John DeFilippo) Flip and just that trust was violated. I can’t emphasize the importance of the trust and the accountability piece. This is where we had an obvious shortcoming.”

McCown threw for 457 yards and 2 touchdowns against Baltimore in Cleveland’s 33 to 30 win earlier this season. If McCown doesn’t start, Browns’ fans have to hope that Manziel is as good as he showed against Pittsburgh when completing over 73% of his passes.

Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction

Schaub to Gilmore should give football handicappers more confidence than Manziel to anybody on Cleveland’s team. The Browns are a mess. Manziel isn’t helping the situation. Even if McCown starts, the stability at Baltimore should be the difference. Expect Schaub and the Ravens to pick up a straight up win as a dog on Monday night.